Device for assembling a bottle and an applicator, applicator and assembly of an applicator and a bottle comprising such a device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for assembling a bottle ( 21 ) and an applicator ( 11 ), said device being intended to occupy a first position in which the bottle ( 21 ) and the applicator ( 11 ) are assembled, referred to as the assembled position, and a second position in which the bottle ( 21 ) and the applicator ( 11 ) are free, referred to as the use position, said device comprising a first component and a second component, said first component comprising a cam ( 12 ) and said second component comprising a cam track ( 22 ), said cam track ( 22 ) being open so as to allow said cam ( 12 ) to escape out of said cam track ( 22 ). 
     The invention also relates to an applicator ( 11 ) comprising one of the components ( 12, 22 ) of said assembly device. 
     The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of an applicator ( 11 ) and a bottle ( 21 ) comprising such an assembly device.

The invention relates to a device for assembling a bottle and an applicator. The invention also relates to an applicator comprising one of the components of said device. The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of an applicator and bottle comprising such an assembly device.

There exist, in the field of cosmetic packaging, portable products comprising an applicator and a bottle. These products are particularly suitable for the transport and application of mascara.

Transporting such applicator and bottle connected to each other, in particular by means of a threaded assembly, is known.

Threaded assemblies do however have the drawback of taking up the time of the user when the applicator and bottle are disconnected. They also have the drawback of occupying both hands of the user during such disconnection.

One of the objectives of the present invention consists of proposing an alternative device for assembling a bottle and a cosmetic-product applicator.

Thus the invention relates to a device for assembling a bottle and an applicator, said bottle being intended to receive a cosmetic product, said device being intended to occupy a first position in which the bottle and the applicator are assembled, referred to as the assembled position, and a second position in which the bottle and the applicator are free, referred to as the use position.

According to the invention, said device comprises a first component intended to be mounted fixedly with respect to one of the elements chosen from between the bottle and the applicator, and a second component, intended to be mounted fixedly with respect to the other element, said first component comprising a cam and said second component comprising a cam track, said cam track being open so as to allow said cam to escape out of said cam track.

The device according to the invention introduces cooperation between a cam and a cam track for the assembly and disassembly of an applicator and a bottle. Said device makes it possible to release the applicator from the bottle by a movement of the cam in the cam track, which offers an alternative to the known assembly device in the field, offering an intuitive and fun assembly/disassembly action.

Furthermore, the use of an open cam track makes it possible to limit the number of components to be used.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which can be taken together or separately:

-   -   said cam and said cam track are configured so as to allow         passage from said assembled position to said use position and/or         from said use position to said assembled position when said         applicator is moved with respect to said bottle,     -   said cam and said cam track are free from any contact in the use         position;     -   said cam track extends on an annular path and has at least one         escape portion situated at a top edge of said cam track and         oriented in a direction transverse to said annular path;     -   said top edge comprises locking portions alternating angularly         with said escape portions;     -   said cam track comprises a bottom sawtooth edge forming, with         said top edge, portions for guiding one of the escape portions         towards one of the locking portions and portions for guiding one         of the locking portions towards one of the escape portions,         following each other in the same rotation direction.

The invention also relates to an applicator comprising one of the components of said assembly device.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which can be taken together or separately:

-   -   said applicator further comprises a rod carrying an applicator         end piece,     -   said applicator further comprises a gripping element able to         move with respect to said rod,     -   said gripping element is configured so as actuate said assembly         device,     -   said gripping element is situated in the vicinity of a proximal         end of said rod,     -   said rod and said gripping element have, with respect to each         other, a degree of freedom in rotation about a principal axis of         said rod,     -   said rod has a distal end opposite to said proximal end along         said principal axis,     -   said cam, or said cam track, is situated in the vicinity of said         proximal end of the rod,     -   said rod has a part able to close off said bottle sealingly,         referred to as a sealing part, in particular when the device is         in the assembled position,     -   said sealing part is a groove,     -   said sealing part is situated at the component of the assembly         device carried by said applicator.

The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of an applicator and a bottle comprising an assembly device as described above.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which can be taken together or separately:

-   -   said applicator is able to move in translation along a principal         axis of the bottle,     -   said bottle has a proximal end and a distal end opposite to said         proximal end along said principal axis,     -   said cam, or said cam track, is situated in the vicinity of said         proximal end of the bottle,     -   the principal axis of the rod is substantially coincident with         the principal axis of the bottle when said device is in the         assembled position,     -   said bottle comprises a container intended to receive said         cosmetic product,     -   said container is housed inside the bottle.

The invention will be understood better and other aims, details, features and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly during the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings:

FIG. 1 is a slightly inclined isometric representation of an applicator and a bottle comprising an example embodiment of an assembly device according to the invention, in the so-called assembled position,

FIG. 2 is the same representation as FIG. 1, said device being in the so-called use position,

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the assembly device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the applicator and the bottle being only partially depicted,

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an example embodiment of a cam track according to the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention relates to a device for assembling a bottle 21 and an applicator 11.

Said bottle 21 is here intended to receive a cosmetic product, in particular mascara, especially for making up the eyelashes of a user.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of the device according to the invention. It is shown here in a first position in which the bottle 21 and the applicator 11 are assembled, referred to as the assembled position.

It should be noted that this position makes it possible to transport the bottle 21 and the applicator 11, in particular as a portable assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same example embodiment of an assembly device, the latter being shown in a second position in which the bottle 21 and the applicator 11 are free. This second position is referred to as the use position.

In this position, the user can make up her eyelashes by means of the applicator 11. To do this, said applicator 11 comprises a rod 13 carrying an applicator end piece 15.

According to the invention, said device comprises a first component 12 intended to be mounted fixedly with respect to one of the elements chosen from between the bottle 21 and the applicator 11 and a second component 22 intended to be mounted fixedly with respect to the other element. Mounted fixedly means a component 12, 22 made in one piece with the element 11, 21, overmoulded with, or adhesively bonded, embedded, snapped or force-fitted in or on said element 11, 21.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate said first component as being mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator 11, said first component comprising a cam 12. Cam 12 means a protrusion of material projecting from the external wall of the applicator 11.

In another example embodiment (not illustrated here) said cam 12 is mounted fixedly with respect to the bottle 21 and therefore projects from the internal wall of said bottle 21.

Said cam 12 is sufficiently rigid to hold the assembly device in the assembled position without time limit.

FIG. 4 illustrates in detail an example embodiment of said second component comprising a cam track 22. The second component is here integrated in the bottle 21. In the non-illustrated case where the cam 12 is mounted fixedly with respect to the bottle 21, said cam track 22 will be carried by the applicator 11.

According to the invention, said cam track 22 is open so as to allow said cam 12 to escape from said cam track 22.

In other words, said cam 12 and said cam track 22 are configured so as to allow passage from said assembled position (FIG. 1) to said use position (FIG. 2) and/or from said use position (FIG. 2) to said assembled position (FIG. 1). Again in other words, assembly and disassembly of the two elements, namely the applicator 11 and the bottle 21, is allowed by means of the movement of the cam 12 in the cam track 22.

In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the cam track 22 extends on an annular path and has at least one escape portion 23 situated at a top edge 25 of said cam track 22. This escape portion 23 makes it possible to release the cam 12 from the cam track 22 and to disconnect the applicator 11 from the bottle 21.

Once out of the cam track 22, the cam 12, and therefore the applicator 11, are free from any contact with respect to the bottle 21, and the user can then make up her eyelashes by means of said applicator 11.

Annular path means a path substantially of revolution, in particular centred on a principal axis of the rod 13 of said applicator 12.

Hereinafter, said principal axis of the rod 13, marked X in FIGS. 1 to 3, will be considered to be coincident with the principal longitudinal-extension direction of the rod 13.

It should be noted that said escape portion 23 is oriented in a direction transverse to said annular path, and therefore in a direction substantially parallel to said principal axis X of the rod 13.

Moreover, said top edge 25 comprises locking portions 24 alternating angularly with said escape portions 23. Said locking portions 24 each have a hollow shape making it possible to hold the cam 12 so as to allow the applicator 11 and the bottle 21 to occupy said assembled position. In other words, it is the locking of the cam 12 by said locking portions 24 that provides the holding of said two elements 11, 21 in the assembled position.

The passage from the assembled position to the use position is permitted since said cam track 22 comprises a bottom edge 26 (see FIG. 4) that has a sawtooth, in particular annular, shape. Said bottom edge 26 then forms, with the top edge 25, portions referred to as guide portions.

Said guide portions direct the cam 12 from one of the escape portions 23 towards one of the locking portions 24 and vice versa.

In other words, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the cam 2 is caused to occupy various positions inside the cam track 22, in particular between the top 25 and bottom 26 edges of said cam track 22. It is the positions occupied by said cam 12 with respect to said cam track 22 that allow passage from the assembled position to the use position of the assembly device of the invention.

Thus, according to the example illustrated here, the passage from the use position to the assembled position takes place in accordance with steps 1 to 5 shown in FIG. 4.

Step 1 corresponds to the insertion of the cam 12 (not illustrated in FIG. 4 for reasons of legibility) in the cam track 22. This insertion takes place through an escape portion 23 that is situated between two locking portions 24, at said top edge 25.

Step 2 corresponds to the contact of said cam 12 with the bottom edge 26, in particular with an inclined face of one of the teeth of this bottom edge 26. This tooth slides said cam 12 towards the position 3, on a spiral path.

An elastic means then acts on said cam 12 and brings it towards the position marked 4. This elastic means is not illustrated here; it pushes said cam 12 along the axis X, from the bottom edge 26 towards to the top edge 25 of said cam track 25. In other words, said elastic means opposes the movement of the cam 12 when it passes from position 1 to position 2. It is the action of the user on one of the two elements 11, 21 that makes it possible to overcome the return force exerted by this elastic means.

Thus the combination between the action of the user, the return force of the elastic means and the shape of the cam track makes it possible to conduct the cam 12 in the cam track 22, and therefore to ensure passage from the use position to the assembled position (and vice versa).

Once in position 3, said cam 12 can no longer leave the cam track 22 since a judiciously placed locking portion 24 prevents this and guides it, on an inclined face of the upper edge 25 of the cam track 22, from position 4 to position 5, which is a locking position, on a spiral path.

To release the cam 12 from said locking position marked 5, the user actuates the element that carries said cam 12, here the applicator 11.

Steps 6 to 10 marked in FIG. 4 illustrate the passage of the assembly device from the assembled position to the use position.

Thus, by actuating the applicator 11, the user must overcome the return force of the elastic means mentioned above in order to bring the cam 12 from the top edge 25 to the bottom edge 26, in particular to position 6, in an axial movement. With the user continuing her force, the cam 12 is guided to position 7 by an inclined face of a sawtooth shape of said bottom edge 26, on a spiral path.

Releasing her force, the user allows the elastic means to push the cam 12, on an axial movement, towards a new escape portion 23, at the top edge 25 of the cam track 22, between two locking positions 24—steps marked 8, 9 and 10 in FIG. 4—and thus allows disconnection of the bottle 21 and applicator 11. For this purpose, the top edge 25 of the cam track 22 has another inclined face guiding said cam 12 on a spiral path from said position 8 to said position 9.

It should be noted that the cam 12 advantageously has a triangular shape. This allows facilitated cooperation with the bottom 26 and top 25 edges of the cam track 22.

It should be noted also that the top edge 25 of the cam track 22 is formed by blocks of materials. The escape portions 23 are situated between two lateral edges of two locking portions 24 facing each other. The locking portions 24 are situated at a bottom edge of said blocks. They are angularly offset with respect to a vertex of the teeth of the bottom edge 26 of said cam track 22 situated between the inclined plane which is used for assembly and the inclined plane which is used for disassembly.

It should also be noted that the cam 12 and/or the cam track 22 are preferably obtained from plastics material.

The cam 12 and/or the cam track 22 can be obtained from propylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyoxymethylene or any thermoplastic polymer that is sufficiently rigid to provide satisfactory cooperation between the cam 12 and the cam track 22.

FIG. 2 gives an example embodiment of the applicator 11. In this figure, the applicator 11 comprises the rod 13 carrying the applicator end piece 15 and said cam 12, which is reproduced on its periphery with a constant angular increment. Here four cams 12 are provided, each spaced apart by a quarter of a disc around the principal axis X of the rod 13. The repetition of a plurality of cams 12 around the applicator 11 has the advantage of distributing the force exerted on each of them.

The number of cams 12 provided around the applicator 11, or inside the bottle 21, may be between 2 and 8 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Moreover, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator 11 comprises a gripping element 14. Said gripping element is advantageously able to move with respect to the rod 13, in particular free to rotate about said rod 13.

Said gripping element 14 is here configured to as to actuate the assembly device of the invention. In other words, the user exerts a force counter to the return force of the elastic means mentioned above by actuating said gripping element 14. Again in other words, the user exerts a manual force by pressing in the gripping element, and therefore the applicator 11, towards the bottle 21, along the axis X.

The mobility of said gripping element 14 with respect to the rod 13 then allows the rod 13 to turn inside the gripping element without this interfering with the gripping of the user. This is because the rod 13 is rotated by the movement of the cam 12 in the cam track 22 and, in order to prevent this causing unpleasant rubbing for the user, the gripping element 14 allows the rod 13 to turn without driving the gripping element 14, which is in contact with a finger of the user.

Here, said gripping element 14 is shown in the form of a cylinder. This form is not limitative. The gripping element can also be pyramidal or cubic in shape or any other shape without departing from the scope of the invention.

It should be noted that said gripping element 14 is situated in the vicinity of a proximal end of said rod 13. Said rod 13 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 17 opposite to said proximal end 16 along said principal axis X.

Here, said cam 12 is situated in the vicinity of said proximal end 16 of the rod 13. In the case where the applicator 11 is the element carrying said cam track 22, said cam track 22 is also situated in the vicinity of said proximal end 16.

Moreover, the applicator end piece 15 mentioned above is situated in the vicinity of said distal end 17. This applicator end piece 15 may be a plastic brush with a straight or curved core, a fibre brush with a straight or curved metal core, or also a hybrid plastic/fibre brush.

This applicator end piece 15 may also be a spatula allowing the application of makeup on the lips or nails of the user, without departing from the scope of the invention, the cosmetic product contained in the bottle 21 then being adapted accordingly.

Moreover, said rod 13 has a part able to close off said bottle sealingly, in particular when the device is in the assembled position. Said part will hereinafter be referred to as the sealing part; it is marked 18 in FIG. 3.

Said sealing part 18 is here shown in the form of a groove 18, which in particular is annular.

This groove 18 is a recessed part of the rod 13, situated in the vicinity of its proximal end 16, intended to cooperate with a proximal part 26 of the bottle 21. Said groove 18 is advantageously configured so as to match the neck of a container 23 housed inside the bottle 21, said container 23 being intended to receive said cosmetic product.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the neck of the container 23 comprises a wiper 30. It is the wiper 30, in interaction with the groove 18, in particular in interaction with a bevelled side of the groove 18, that affords said seal. The seal is effected between the wiper 30 made from relatively flexible material and the bevelled part made from rigid material. “Rigid” means a material that is rigid in comparison with the relatively flexible material of the wiper 30. In other words, it is the portion of the rod 13 that cooperates with the wiper 30 that makes said seal.

Said groove 18 is situated between a skirt formed by the applicator 11 and the rod 13, said cam 12 being situated at an external wall of said skirt.

It should be noted that said bottle 21 also has a principal longitudinal-extension direction, referred to as the principal axis of the bottle and marked Y in FIGS. 1 to 4. Said bottle 21 also has a distal end 27 opposite to said proximal end 26 along said principal axis Y, and said cam track 22, carried here by the bottle 21, is situated in the vicinity of said proximal end 25.

In the non-illustrated case where the bottle 21 carries the cam 12, the latter would also be situated in the vicinity of said proximal end 25.

It should also be noted that the principal axis X of the rod is substantially coincident with the principal axis Y of the bottle when said device is in the assembled position (FIGS. 1 and 3).

It should also be noted that variant embodiments are of course possible. In particular it can also be envisaged, in an embodiment that is not illustrated here, using said assembly device for assembling a bottle, in particular in the form of a pot, intended to receive a cosmetic or dermatological cream, with an applicator produced in the form of the lid, or also a cap. In other words, the assembly device according to the invention is not limited to the field of mascara applicators and bottles. 

1. A device for assembling a bottle and an applicator, said bottle being intended to receive a cosmetic product, said device being intended to occupy a first assembled position in which the bottle and the applicator are assembled, and a second use position in which the bottle and the applicator are free, said device comprising: a first component mounted fixedly with respect to either the bottle or the applicator, and a second component mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the bottle, or with respect to the bottle when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator, said first component comprising a cam and said second component comprising a cam track that is open so as to allow said cam to escape out of said cam track.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cam track extends on an annular path and has at least one escape portion situated at a top edge of said cam track and oriented in a direction transverse to said annular path.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said top edge comprises locking portions alternating angularly with said escape portions.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said cam track comprises a bottom edge in a sawtooth forming, with said top edge, portions guiding one of the escape portions towards one of the locking portions and portions guiding one of the locking portions towards one of the escape portions.
 5. An applicator for a bottle intended to receive a cosmetic product, the applicator comprising a component of an assembly device intended to occupy a first assembled position in which the bottle and the applicator are assembled, and a second use position in which the bottle and the applicator are free, the component being selected from the group consisting of: a first component mounted fixedly with respect to either the bottle or the applicator, and a second component mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the bottle, or with respect to the bottle when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator, said first component comprising a cam and said second component comprising a cam track that is open so as to allow said cam to escape out of said cam track.
 6. The applicator according to claim 5, further comprising a rod carrying an applicator end piece.
 7. The applicator according to claim 6, further comprising a gripping element able to move with respect to said rod.
 8. The applicator according to claim 7, in which said rod and said gripping element have, with respect to each other, a degree of freedom in rotation about a principal axis of said rod.
 9. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein said gripping element is situated in a vicinity of a proximal end of said rod.
 10. The applicator according to claim 5, wherein said rod has a sealing part adapted to close said bottle sealingly when the device is in the assembled position.
 11. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein said sealing part is a groove.
 12. The applicator according to claim 10, wherein said sealing part is situated at the component when the component is mounted fixedly to said applicator.
 13. An assembly consisting of an applicator and a bottle, comprising an assembly device said bottle being intended to receive a cosmetic product, said device being intended to occupy a first assembled position in which the bottle and the applicator are assembled, and a second use position in which the bottle and the applicator are free, said device comprising: a first component mounted fixedly with respect to either the bottle or the applicator, and a second component mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the bottle, or with respect to the bottle when the first component is mounted fixedly with respect to the applicator, said first component comprising a cam and said second component comprising a cam track that is open so as to allow said cam to escape out of said cam track.
 14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said applicator is adapted able to move in translation along a principal axis of the bottle.
 15. The applicator according to claim 11, wherein said sealing part is situated at the component when the component is mounted fixedly to said applicator. 